At work with Dad

At work with Dad

Take Our Kids to Work Day came to the Meaford fire hall last week.
The fire hall was one of many local workplaces that hosted a grade nine student on Wednesday, November 7 for Take Our Kids to Work Day.
Fire Captain Rollie Wilkie had his son Quinlan with him for the day at the fire hall. In addition to his father being a member of the Meaford Fire Department, Quinlan's brother Taylor is also on the fire department and his other brother Chris is a firefighter with the Inter-Township Fire Department.
"I'm hoping so," Quinlan said, when asked if he plans to follow in the footsteps of his dad and brothers.
Take Our Kids to Work Day is an annual event held across Canada. Grade nine students across the country accompany their parents or other relatives to their places of work for a chance to encounter life in "the real world." The program attracts as many as 250,000 students every single year.
"We're cleaning the trucks, we're cleaning the hall and there is some gear to be put together," Captain Wilkie explained. "I'm showing him the trucks and how they're maintained. He doesn't get to drive them though," he joked.
Wilkie explained the firefighting is a messy business. He said after a call that involves an actual fire, members of the fire department return in gear and equipment that is dirty and smelling of smoke. The gear often has to be sent out for a full cleaning.
"We just put his big brother's gear back together. It just returned from being cleaned after the big fire (at the Shoreview Apartments a few weeks ago)," Wilkie said. "At the fire hall, there is always something to clean," he said.
Captain Wilkie said he was glad to have the opportunity to bring Quinlan to the fire hall to see what happens behind the scenes.
"It's a good opportunity to give him a chance to see how stuff works. He's been following all of this since he was a kid. Taylor and Quinlan both grew up with it. They know all about those midnight calls," Wilkie said.
If Quinlan does decide to pursue becoming a member of the fire department he is going to have to wait a few years until he is 18. When there is an opening on the fire department he can apply for the job. There is an interview process, fitness testing, math testing and 100 hours of training.
"It takes about six months of in-class and hands-on training," Wilkie said.